Clach a' Mharsainte

The Clach a’ Mharsainte stands on the north side of the east end of Loch Rannoch close to the road which passes around the loch.

Legend has it that a travelling merchant sat down in the shade of this standing stone one hot summer’s day, and as he threw off his pack, it fell behind the stone and he was strangled by the straps.

A plaque has been fixed to it describing the origin of its name. The plaque says:

Clach-a-Mharslin
(The Pedlar’s Stone)

Although throughout the Highlands there were many such resting places used by pedlars to unburden themselves of their pack – normally carried on the back and supported by a strap around the forehead – this stone acquired notoriety when a pedlar’s pack slipped off the stone whilst he was adjusting the forehead strap which went round his neck and strangled him.

Re-erected 26th February 1981
Multi-Ownership & Hotels Limited

The stone stands just off the road in front of a hotel complex and is a fairly regular cuboid shape, but the top has a slight point to it. Standing behind the stone (with the hotel behind you) it’s tempting to conclude that the top of the stone mirrors the shape of Schiehallion’s peak to the south-east. Since the stone was re-erected this alignment may be coincidental.